Along the South West Coast of India secluded behind the peaks of the Western Ghats lies the emerald green enchantment of Kerala. Lush velvet paddy fields, swaying coconut palms, golden beaches with an unbelievable blue sea, high uplands with tropical forests, cool backwaters and palm-fringed lagoons are all part of the magic that is Kerala.
Best Time: October to Mid March.
Focus: Beaches, backwaters, rolling tea gardens, Temples, wildlife, culture and people.
Duration: 17 Days.
DAY 01 MUMBAI
Arrive Mumbai from your home country. Garland welcome, assistance & transfer to the pre-booked hotel. Morning free to relax. Afternoon we make a trip to Elephanta caves by steam boat ,also visist Prince of Wales Museum designed in the Indo-Sarcenic style and has sections for art and paintings, archaeology and natural history. O/n Hotel.
DAY 02 MUMBAI TO NEELESHWAR.
After breakfast transfer to the airport for flight to Manglore. Arrive manglore and transfer (2hrs) to one of the finest beach resorts at Neeleshwar for 03nights. Afternoon free to relax and enjoy swimming at thjis fantastic quite and calm beach.
DAY 03 NEELESHWAR:
Morning after breakfast visist to the Shiva Temple and Anand Ashram. Afternoon visist to the Bekal Fort for stunning sunset over the Aribian sea. Overnight in Resort.
Day 04 NEELESHWAR:
A day free to relx, unwind or have Ayurvada Treatments or take a houseboat cruise through the virgin backwaters to see great birdlife. Overnight in resort.
DAY 05 NEELESHWAR TO KANNUR
After breakfast, we drive about 3hrs to Kannur formerly a major port area, this is now a city known for its handloom and beedi (local cigarettes) industries, Journey bringing us first to Sree Muthappan Temple in Parassinikadavu .Temple stands on the banks of the Valapattanam River. This is the only temple in Kerala where Theyyam the ritual dance form of North Kerala is performed every morning and evening. The temples non-conformist nature is also evident in the unusual custom of offering dried fish and toddy to the deity. After visist the temple we drive about 15 kms to our hotel in Kannur.
DAY 05 KANNUR TO KOCHI (COCHIN) (train)
Early morning transfer to the railways station for fast train to Kochi, breakfast on board. Arrive Koch and transfer to the hotel located in Fort Kochi area, Afternoon walking tour along the Chinese fishing nets for stunning sunsets and see people fishing, a lovely sight not to be missed. Overnight in hotel.
DAY 06 COCHIN
Formed for its natural harbour, one of the finest in the world, Cochin has earned the sobriquet Queen of the Arabian Sea . Here you can see the oldest churches in India. The ancient temples, churches and synagogues. From time immemorial, Arabs, Chinese, Dutch, British and Portuguese sea farers followed the sea route to Cochin and left their impressions on the town.
Morning we make a short drive to visit the Mattancherry Dutch Palace was built by Portuguese in 1557 and presented to the Cochin Raja, Kerala Varma. The glory of the palace lies in the murals which are in the best traditions of the Hindu temple art and the religious, decorative and stylised synagogue, afterthat move to the Jewish Synagogue, built in 1568. The great scrolls of the Old Testament and a number of copper plates inscribed in the Hebrew script are preserved in this synagogue. Later on to St. Francis Church, this Protestant church was built originally by the Portuguese in 1510 AD and it is believed to be the first church built by the Europeans in India. Vasco-da-Gama was buried here. Fourteen years later, his mortal remains were taken to Portugal. Evening visit the Fort Kochin, the entrance of the harbour is dotted by the Chinese Fishing Nets. There are large nets, which hang from teak posts and are still used by local fisherman in Fort Cochin to catch fish attracted by the lights suspended above the net. Silhouetted against the sunset, they present a spectacular sight of Cochins waterfront. O/n Hotel.
DAY 07 COCHIN TO MUNNAR
Morning after breakfast drive to Munnar (about 155kms/05hrs) is a beautiful, peaceful hill station covered with unending expanse of tea plantations, with an altitude ranging from 1600 to 1800 metres from sea level. Its beauty further enchanced by great black roads that thrust upwards suddenly from amidst the thick vegetation and the winding lanes of the town are filled with heavenly fragrance of fresh tea wafting out of the innumerable tea processing plants. Check into the hotel. Afternoon is free or we can make a short trek through the ea gardens. Overnight in hotel.
DAY 08 MUNNAR
After breakfast we drive to the nearby Eravikulam wildlife Sanctuary, the home of the largest population of Ibex existing in the world now. Afternoon we drive to the worlds highest tea processing factory to sample the finest tea and to see the process, the area also commands stunning views of the Western Ghats and the panoramic views towards Tamil Nadu . We retune back through some of the most stunning scenery driving on a very bumpy road meandering through the tea garden with backdrop of Western Ghats. Overnight in Hotel.
DAY 09 MUNNAR TO THEKKADY
Morning after breakfast drive to Thekkady (about 105kms/03hrs), the drive to Thekkady itself is enchanting as the road winds through rich plantations and thick jungles. Check into the hotel. Afternoon we make a guided spice walk through various plantations.
DAY 10 THEKKADY
Periyar Wild Life Sanctuary is one of the Indias major sanctuaries, with elephant, monkeys and wild boar in abundance, as well as some other elusive but occasionally spotted species such as tigers. The sanctuary offers a lovely and comfortable way to see the animals, via boat rides on the man-made lake, which the wildlife areas encircle. The greatest attractions are the herds of wild elephants that come down to the lake to frolic on the waters, along with their young ones. Morning or evening we can explore the sanctuary by cruising. O/n Hotel.
DAY 11 THEKKADY TO KUMARAKOM
Morning drive to Kumarakom (about 140kms/03hrs), the drive gives you a breathtaking views laid out in its glory along the road which winds from Periyar to Kottayam through the tranquil countryside, plantations of rubber, tea, coffee, cardamom and pepper. Check into the hotel. The rest of the day relax to watch the daily engagements of the village peoples around your hotel or visit the Bird sanctuary nearby known for local varieties like the water fowl, cuckoo, owl and the water duck as well as migratory Siberian Strokes. O/n Hotel.
DAY 12 KUMARAKOM
Morning after breakfast we make a drive to Aranmula, the heritage village in India, is also famous for its metal mirrors and the only ritual snake boat race of Kerala, which take place every year during Onam season. Visit the Vijnana Kala Vedi, a cultural centre has been introducing foreign visitors into Indian arts since 1977, when it was created by Ms. Louba Schid, a European artist living in Kerala since 1968, studying and performing Kathakali. The objective of the Centre has been throughout to contribute to the preservation of traditional arts, not in creating a museum of the past, but in keeping alive the atmosphere, which gave birth and maintained their vitality. Aranmula is world famous for its metal mirrors, Aranmula Kannady , unique for its alloy and its ancient method lost wax and polishing techniques. The proportion of the alloy is a secret, known only to the manufacturers, i.e. only to the members of a family who had been passing on this secret from generation to generations. Vijnana Kala Vedi will arrange for visits to the metal mirror workshops and the school for traditional architecture and mural painting. Back to the hotel. O/n Hotel.
DAY 13 KUMARAKOM TO ALLEPPEY
Morning we make a small cruise towards Alleppey, washed by the silvery waves of the Arabian Sea, interlocked with a large number of canals and bridges. Board a houseboat from the Finishing point boat jetty, cruise through the enchanting backwaters and lagoons. O/n Houseboat.
DAY 14 ALLEPPEY TO KOVALAM
Morning after breakfast disembark from the houseboat, drive to Kovalam (about 180kms/05hrs). Enroute visit the Napier Museum, an absolute gem of architectural exuberance, combining traditional Kerala styles with good doses of Chinese and Mughal influences. Visit the Padmanabhaswamy Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple is a sprawling complex with a magnificent gopurams or tower. Check into the hotel.. O/n Hotel.
DAY 15 KOVALAM
The boundless blue of the Arabian Sea and the unwinding mile of fine sand washed by a surf which roars and hisses at the feet of coconuts palms, Kovalam is a sheltered natural bay. A sheet of silvery sand curves into an arc that is bordered on the one side by azure blue water and on the other by a never-ending spread of green palmgroves. You can sunbathe on the silver sands, the whole day on the beaches. O/n Hotel.
DAY 16 KOVALAM TO MUMBAI
Morning free to relax. Afternoon transfer to the Trivandrum domestic airport, board flight to Mumbai. Upon arrival, we will have the dinner from a good local restaurant, transfer to the Mumbai International airport to board flight to your home country.
DAY 17 MUMBAI TO YOUR HOME COUNTRY